Capel-y-ffin CP7 end of day 10

Sunday: My first wild camp last night was successful.

9 miles / 800 feet of ascent from lower slopes of Sugar Loaf to Capel-y-ffin completed at end of tenth day of walking. Weather warm and dry all day until a few minutes after I arrived at B&B when it started to rain.

Walked 3 miles this morning to St.Martins Church, Cwmyoy in Llanthony Valley aka Vale of Ewyas for the 9.30 morning service. The Church is known locally as the crocked Church because the nave and the tower are at opposite angles from vertical because of land slips.

Then walked 3 miles along North East side of valley to Llanthony to view magnificent Priory followed by lunch and Cider at nearby Half Moon Inn. Had interesting conversation with a researcher who had been quizing the landlady about the valley history. This was to go towards a Promenade Theatre performance of a play about the valley in which the audience would move along the valley with the actors as each part was played out. Commissioned by Wales Art Council or National Theatre of Wales - I forget which - scheduled for release 2019.

Then walked final further 3 miles along valley side to Capel-y-ffin to stay at The Grange Trekking Centre. I was going to camp but heavy rain was forecast overnight, and indeed started a few minutes after my arrival, so I accepted B&B offer.

Capel-y-ffin has 2 places of worship. The very small St.Mary the Virgin Church (Church in Wales / Anglican) and a Baptist Chapel. I walked into St.Mary the Virgin to find the smallest church I have ever seen. 3 rows of Pews and a small balcony, very cosy.

My walk along the valley was on a way marked footpath on the valley side below the Hatterral Ridge, the top of which is part of the Offa's Dyke Path. The valley side allowed a splendid view across the valley to the parallel ridge on which I could see the patchwork of fields, Farms and Animals that mirrored the ridge I was walking.Read more